By Roy Ramos
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines (AA) - A total of 23 Abu Sayyaf militants have surrendered over the past week due to unrelenting combat operations in the Philippine’s southern provinces, strongholds of Daesh-linked group, military said.
Carlito Galvez Jr., commander of the military’s Western Mindanao Command, said 19 militants surrendered in Basilan province, while four yielded in Sulu province.
“We expect to receive more Abu Sayyaf members… as even top leaders of the group are already sending feelers for their possible surrender,” Galvez told reporters in Zamboanga City.
“We will continue to pound on the remaining Abu Sayyaf members until we get the last of them,” he added.
Col. Juvimax Uy, commander of the Joint Task Force Basilan, told media the two sub-leaders --Nur Hassan Lahaman and Mudsar Angkun -- surrendered along with 13 men to the army’s 64th Infantry Battalion in Basilan’s village of Tumahubong.
Four militants yielded in Mohammad Ajul town of Basilan.
In Sulu province, four more militants surrendered to the army’s 501st Infantry Brigade in Indanan town.
A total of 40 Abu Sayyaf militants have surrendered since January, the military said.
Since 1991, Abu Sayyaf -- armed with mostly improvised explosive devices, mortars and automatic rifles -- has carried out bombings, kidnappings, assassinations and extortion in a self-determined fight for an independent province in the Philippines.